Lever-holding mechanism for automobiles



T. J. BITTER, 15., AND B. M. WARN. LEVER HOLDQNG MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES. MPLICATION FILED APR-1811MB.

1 ,328,899. Patented J an. 27, 1920.

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AND BENJAMIN M. WARN, OF LAIBDSVIIJLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

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LEVEEFHOLDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 18, 1919.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. Rrrrsn, Jr., andBEnJAMrN M. WARN, citizens of the United States of America. and residents of l iairdsville, in the county of Lyooming, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lever-Holding Mechanism for Automobiles, whereof the following is a specification.

In certain automobiles, especially of the Ford type, the speed is regulated by the position of a power or clutch lever operated by the foot, said lever having three positions. an intermediate or neutral position in which the clutch is disengaged, a rearward position in which the high speed gear is operative and a forward position in which the low speed gear is operative. In the forward posltion of slow speed for hill climbing a constant pressure is reiuired to mainta n the leverat low gear. T is results in strain and weariness to the driver where hilly or bad roads are traveled. V

Thisinvention relates to a ower lever holding mechanism for automo iles, which is shiftable into operative or inoperative position, and which acts automatically when in operative position to hold the power lever in the desired fixed position, and when shifted to inoperative position becomes totally disenga ed from said lever, whereby the latter may e operated in the usual way for any period of time without frequent adjustment of the holding mechanism.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents a plan view of the front portlon of the body of an automobile of the Ford type, showing the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Fi 2 represents in a diagrammatic perspeetive the several added elements, together with the lever plate and power lever of a Ford car.

The same reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in both figures, the principal parts being designated by round numbers and the subordinate features thereof by intermediate numbers.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention certain features of the usual construction of a Ford car are shown; namely a body 10 provided with a foot board 15, a slotted lever plate 16 attached to said foot boa; and opener or clutch foot lever 20 pgh and plays in the left u mm ban a ct of sat board and lever plate,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.'27, 1920.

Serial No. 291,002.

and is movable from neutral into high or low gear. position in the usual manner.

lnthe application of this invention there.

is added to the well known elements above referred to a swinging member or rack 30 pivoted adjacent to the power lever 20 and adapted to swing into and out of engagement therewith. This rack provided along its inner edge with ratchet teeth 31, at its upper end with a hole 32 and at its lower end with a fixed downward. stud 33. A pivot bolt 34 secures the rack bar to the foot board 15, said bolt a-ssing through the hole 32 of the rack and t irough a hole 17 in the lever plate 16 and foot board 171. The stud 33 projects through a slot 18 in the lever plate and foot board. A contractile spiral spring 40 is connected at one end with a fixed stud 19 on the underside of the foot board some distance to the right of the lever plate and-at the other end with the stud 33 on the swinging rack 30. This spring tends to swing the rack 30 toward the lever 20 and to cause it to automatically engage said lever. The member or rack 30 is always free to swing on. its pivot except when shifted out of contact with the lever 20 as hereinafter described and is constantly subject to the ac tion of the spring 40 during its engagement with the lever 20. The lever is preferably provided with a catch plate 21 which facilitates the engagement therewith of the movable rack 30.

Means are provided for shifting the toothed member or rack 30 out of position for engagement with the lever 20. and for locking said rack in such inoperative position. The means shown for this purpose are mounted independently of said toothed member and comprise a spring bracket 50, a hand lever pivoted thereto and a rod 70 connecting the stud 33 of the swinging rack with said lever. The spring bracket 50 is constructed of sheet metal and is rovided with a bottom flange 51 and a top ange 52. This bracket is secured to a floor board of the body 10 by screws passing through the bottom flange 51. The top flange 52 has a slot 53 and a notch 54 at one end of said slot. The body of the spring bracket is provided with a stud 55. The hand lever 60 is fulcrumed on said stud and plays near its upper end in said slot 53. The lower end of this lever projects through a slot 62 in the door of the body 10. The rod 70 is provided at one end with an eye 71 which is engaged by the stud 33 of the movable rack 30, a cutter right and the spring action of the spring pin 72 assing through said stud below said bracket 50, causes the, notch of the latter to (l a washer 73 being disposed on said engage the hand lever and lock the holding stud between said cotter pin and the undermechanism out of operative position. side of the foot board. The opposite end of The details of the mechanism herein de- 50 said rod is rovided with an eve 74 through scribed may be varied without departure which the ower end of the hand lever 60 from the spirit or scope of the invention. projects and a cotter pin 75 is passed We claim as. our invention: through a hole 61 in said hand lever below 1. The combination of a floor plate having the eye 74 of said rod 70 and a washer 76 is a slot, an automobile speed control lever disposed on said hand lever between said playing in said slot, a swinging toothed cotter pin and the underside of the floor. member pivoted adjacent to said slot and The device is applied to a Ford car by adapted to swing in a plane substantially simply removing the center floor board, cutparallel with said plate into and out of enting a slot at the lower left hand corner of gagement with said lever, a spring mecha- 60 the lever plate and swinging the ratchet nism operative to ,yieldingly hold said from the upper left hand corner thereof; toothed member normally in engagement then attaching the spring bracket carrying with said lever, and means mounted indethe actuating hand lever. pendently of said toothed member for shift: The devices constituting this lever holdiug it out of engagement with said lever. (55 ing mechanism are very simple and may be 2. The combination of a floor plate having applied to an automobile already in use a slot, an automobile speed control lever without the aid of a skilled mechanic. playing in said slot, a swinging toothed In the use of this invention,the lever holdmember pivoted adjacent to said slot and ing mechanism is placed in operative posiadapted to swing in a plane substantially 70 tion by swinging the hand lever 60 toward parallel with said plate into and out of enthe left and the movable rack 30 is then snbgag-cmcnt with said lover, a spring mechaject to the tension of the spring 40. As the nism operative to yieldingly hold said power or clutch lever 20 is pushed forward toothed member normally in engagement to throw the clutch on low gear, the catch with said lever, and self locking means plate 21 thereof moves up over the upwardly mounted independently of said toothed inclined ratchet teeth 31 of said rack, and member for shifting it out of engagement when said lever reaches the desired position, with said lever. the operator releases the lever and one of the The combination of a slotted foot boar teeth of said rack engages said catch plate a control lever movable in a slot thereof, a s0 and holds the lever in the adjusted position. rack bar pivoted adjacent to said slot and he operator is thus relieved of the foot adapted to swing into en agement with said pressure and leg strain incident to the ordilever, a spring normally olding said swingnary operation of such lever. When it is deing rack in engagement with said lever, a sired to shift the lever to neutral or high notched spring bracket, a lever engaged by 85 gear position a swing of the hand lever to said spring bracket, and a rod connecting the right will disengage the rack bar from said lever with said spring rack. the foot lever. When it is desired to hold the rack bar out of engagement with the THOMAS J. BITTER, JR. foot lever, the hand lever 60 is swung to the BENJAMIN M. WARN. 

